“I won something?” he said when asked for his reaction when he learning of the award.

“I’m just kind of surprised I was recognized for anything in this league. I was really surprised. … I was just shocked.”

Whiteside was then asked if he feels he goes unrecognized in the league.

“I think I do, of course I do,” he said. “I think I don’t get a lot of recognition at all.”

But his coach and teammates were happy that Whiteside, 27 and in the first year of a $98 million contract, was rewarded for not only his play but helping the Heat during their run of 23 wins in their last 29 games.

“It was good to see him get recognized for winning and impacting winning,” coach Erik Spoelstra said. “That’s what it’s all about. I’m pretty sure he’s had better statistical weeks than he had last week. But you start to accumulate individual awards and accomplishments when you help impact winning and I think that’s a great lesson. He already is getting it. He understands it.”

Guard Goran Dragic said Whiteside is “one of the leaders” of this team and the Heat needs the effort he has been bringing every night.

“Those little things mean a lot to win those games, especially defensively how he’s defending the pick-and-roll, how he’s engaged and he’s talking to us guards where to send the guys with the ball,” Dragic said. “He’s always at the right place at the right time.”

Whiteside averaged 20 points, 13.7 rebounds and 2.7 blocks while shooting 73 percent from the floor as the Heat went 2-1 for the week. He is the second Heat player to be honored this season with guard Dion Waiters winning the award in January.

Whiteside is averaging 16.7 points and a league-leading 14.2 rebounds this season. He ranks fourth in the NBA with 48 double-doubles. He first talked about not getting the recognition he believes he deserves when he was left off the All-Star team.

“I’m just trying to affect the game in the best way possible and I’m trying to make this push to the playoffs with the team,” Whiteside said.